Australian Lacrosse Network Men’s Game of the Week

The 3 time defending champions Williamstown sent an ominous message to the rest of the competition in week 1, bouncing Brunswick Lacrosse with a dominant performance out of the gate. Newly crowned Australian Men’s Lacrosse Team 2018 face off man Noah Jenney was in particularly devasting form finding scoring 5 goals.

The 2018 Fearon’s still resemble the 2017 outfit that rolled the Chiefs in a hard fought 2017 decider but with some tweaks. Gone are Brendan Maguire and Matthew Price but as Williamstown do, they have tapped into their unparalleled depth to replace then with the wizardry of Josh Ardossi and the bullocking Tom Pike.

Camberwell on the other hand showed signs of the same toughness that got them all the way the GF in Round 1 as the rolled out a tight 8 – 5 win over Malvern Lacrosse Club.

For the Chiefs it all starts in the cage with Australian goalkeeper and reigning LV Fairest & Best, Sean Aaron. With Aaron between the pipes and Alistair Gloutnay leading the Chief defence, the Chiefs will be tough to crack again and the Williamstown offence will have to be patient.

The interesting aspect to the Chiefs this year will be at the other end. Perennial goal scorer Clinton Lander will be up to his usual tricks but he will have help in the form of U18 revelation Joseph Pagliaro and former MCC Lacrosse Section stud, Marty Hyde who will cross over to the Chiefs in 2018.

If the Chief defence can play to its usual high standard, we expect them to be able to quieten a rampant Williamstown offence but the question will be whether they can solve the riddle that is the Williamstown defence. We think they have the goods to do it, but with a new look upfront, it may take the Chiefs a few rounds to play their offence into match-winning form.

Our Pick: Williamstown 10 Camberwell 5

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(Photo Credit: Lacrosse Pix)